A few random thoughts as the preseason wraps up and we anticipate cutdown day (Tuesday, August 29):
In defense of Marcus Mariota. Everyone's least favorite backup QB is going to make this team, barring something completely unforeseen. He's had a rough camp and an uneven (at best) preseason, but let me offer a defense in four parts: 1) there are no options for backup QB that are currently both better and cheaper, unless of course McKee is as ready as he appears, 2) a player's performance in the preseason is nearly meaningless as far as his prospects to make a roster go. I'm remembering Daeshon Hall (you probably forgot he was an Eagle); Hall was unquestionably the best defender on the field for the Birds in 2019... and was cut. The legend of Joe Ostman fits here too. 3) The list of Eagles backup quarterbacks that didn't look good in preseason but ended up being fine is pretty long (Foles in 2017 and Minshew last year come to mind). 4) Mariota's career numbers (QBR, ANY/A, Passer Rating, AV/game and PFF score), prorated over a full season, would have ranked between 16th and 24th among qualifying quarterbacks last season. Nothing special, but if nothing else it's proof that he belongs in this league. The Eagles beat is echoing with chatter that he's washed up and has nothing left. Physically, that's completely false. I'm not sure if there's some sort of mental/emotional issue going on, but there's nothing tangible that can't be fixed here.
In defense of Derek Barnett. It's long past time for fans to stop evaluating Barnett as the former #13 overall pick (a disappointment), or even as a starter (he'll be the #5 pass rusher on the team as of now). I pointed out something similar last year, but Barnett (for all of his obvious flaws) is still an above average pass rusher. If you define pressure rate as Total Pressures divided by Total Defensive Snaps (Football Reference defines pressures as sacks + hurries + knockdowns), Barnett scores a career pressure rate of 3.65%, which would have ranked #27 among defensive linemen last year. Barnett's career PFF grade, weighted by snaps, is 63.8. This would have tied for 91st in the league (again, among defensive linemen) in 2022, coincidentally tied with Chandler Jones. Again, this is not presented to prove that Barnett is secretly some sort of superstar in hiding, but as a fifth pass rusher only making $3.5 million guaranteed, he's totally fine. This won't stop Philly from taking a good trade offer.
Possible trade for Jonathan Taylor? In a word, “no”. This isn't because I don't like Taylor (I do), or because he won't help the Eagles. He's a one-year rental with an injury history, and plays a position that just isn't valued highly right now. Based on the value he'd likely provide for one year, I'd be surprised if he was traded for much more than a third round pick. If I'm the Eagles and I'm serious about it, I'd offer a second round pick and Kenny Gainwell for a fifth round pick and Jonathan Taylor. It sounds like the Colts would laugh and hang up the phone, and that's probably for the best.
Rapid fire 53 man roster projection.
QB (3, 3): Hurts, Mariota, McKee
RB (4, 7): Gainwell, Swift, Penny, Scott
WR (5, 12): Brown, Smith, Watkins, Zaccheaus, Allen
TE (4, 16): Goedert, Stoll, Calcaterra, Jackson
OL (9, 25): Mailata, Dickerson, Kelce, Jurgens, Lane Johnson, Driscoll, Opeta, Fred Johnson, Steen
DT (6, 31): Cox, Davis, Williams, Carter, Tuipulotu, Ojomo
EDGE (6, 37): Graham, Sweat, Reddick, Smith, Barnett, Patrick Johnson
LB (4, 41): Cunningham, Dean, Elliss, Morrow
CB (5, 46): Slay, Bradberry, Maddox, Jobe, Ringo
S (4, 50): Blankenship, Jones, Edmunds, Wallace
Specialists (3, 53): Elliott, Lovato, punter to be named later (Siposs nominally, but if an option that's remotely interesting pops up between now and the start of the season, he'll be replaced)
A reminder of the Eagles’ 2024 draft picks. Considering the next few days (and really, all the way to the trade deadline on October 31) will be stuffed with trade rumors, here’s a rundown of which draft picks the Eagles have (and don’t have). I’m using the incomparable work from Over the Cap to estimate compensatory picks.
1st round
Eagles’ own pick
2nd round
Eagles’ own pick
Saints pick
3rd round
The Eagles’ own pick was traded to Arizona for Kelee Ringo
compensatory pick for Javon Hargrave
4th round
Eagles’ own pick (traded to Chicago for Jalen Carter)
5th round
The Eagles’ own pick was traded to Arizona as part of that “discipline” for tampering
Vikings pick (acquired for Jalen Raeger)
Buccaneers pick (acquired for a sixth round pick during 2023 draft)
compensatory pick for Isaac Seumalo
compensatory pick for Andre Dillard
6th round
The Eagles’ own pick was traded to New Orleans for CJGJ
Titans pick (acquired for Ugo Amadi)
compensatory pick for CJGJ
7th round
The Eagles’ own pick was traded to Seattle for Ugo Amadi
Upcoming articles. I've got a mega-ranking of all starting NFL quarterbacks, and many of the backups, that features more than fifty players all but done. We'll have deep dives into both the offensive and the defensive rosters, and a deep dive into the schedule with win and loss projections.
FLY EAGLES FLY!
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